According to reports, LHP Sean Manea is set to join the New York Mets on a 2 year, $28M contract as the NL East club continues to retool their roster.
The contract will reportedly pay Manea $14.5M in 2024, and $13.5M in 2025, with a player option to opt out following the first year of the deal. The new figure represents a $2M increase in salary for 2024 after the 31 year old opted out of his deal with the San Francisco Giants which would have seen him earn $12.5M in the upcoming season.
Manea went 7-6 with the Giants in 2023, posting a 4.44 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 128 strikeouts over 117 IP. The former Oakland standout only started 10 games for San Francisco as he oscillated back and forth between the starting rotation and the bullpen. It’s widely speculated that Manea will return to his starting role with the Mets, slotting in towards the back end of the rotation.
Following the departures of Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer at last season’s trade deadline, New York now features a collection of Kodai Senga, Luis Severino, Adrian House, Tylor Megill, and Jose Quintana to compete with Manea for starting spots next year.
In a stark contrast to how the club has operated the last few years under new owner Steve Cohen, New York has been relatively quiet on the free agent front this winter. The Mets opened last season with Major League Baseball’s highest payroll at $353.5M. But after shedding salary this offseason, their winter additions have been of the “low risk, high upside” variety.
New York signed CF Harrison Bader to a 1 year, $10.5M deal, and Joey Wendle to a 1 year, $2M contract. Severino’s deal was a 1 year, $13M pact, while Manea could ostensibly walk after 2024 as well. All in all, the Mets have committed very little term and value in their moves under new president of baseball operations David Stearns.
After a 4th place finish in the NL East in 2023 (75-87), New York could see a similar on field result this year, before gearing up for a more earnest push for the postseason in 2025.
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